Vote rally brings out Rendell

SOMERSET - Governor Ed Rendell's stumping for Democratic candidates state-wide brought him to the Veterans of Foreign War post on Saturday for a “get out the vote” rally.

More than 60 people attended the noon event including commissioners, candidates, volunteers and representatives from the Presidential campaign organizing for the local push to the Nov. 4 election.

“The direction of this country, in my judgment, is hanging in the balance,” Rendell said.

Democrats in Somerset County must work hard to overcome a registration gap that has grown since the primary earlier this year. Republicans have 26,272 on the rolls compared to 23,159 for the Democrats.

Local Democratic candidates like Ken Warnick and Tony Barr participated in the rally as well. Warnick is competing against Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar for the 71st District state House seat and Barr is looking to unseat Congressman Bill Shuster.

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Commissioner John Vatavuk, who serves as the county chair for the democratic party said, the key to winning would be volunteers making phone calls to undecided voters and also going door-to-door to make sure people vote.

“We have to get them to the polling booths on election day,” he said.

It was a sentiment echoed by local Republicans as, well. Bruce Hottle, county chair for the Republican party said volunteers have been in abundance for the race.

“We've gotten very good support,” he said. “I think people start paying more attention to the issues as this gets closer.”

Many politicians are calling Pennsylvania a battleground state and they are striving to reach voters.

“Pennsylvania is still very much in play. Nobody is taking anything for granted,” he said.